Lady Jacket Softball Drops Pair at Central Washington Tourney (February 28, 2003)

RICHLAND, WA – The MSU Billings softball team opened the Central Washington Invitational Tournament with a pair of losses Friday afternoon.  The Yellowjackets dropped their tournament opener 4-1 to Humboldt State and were hammered by Western Washington 15-1 in the late game.

Humboldt (11-8) took a 3-0 lead in the second inning before MSU Billings cut the lead to 3-1 in the top of the third.  Cami Rainey reached on an error and was advanced to second on a single by Joey Ehnes.  Michelle Falsken’s sacrifice bunt moved Rainey to third, and Sara Hanley drove her in with an RBI single.  Terilee Ehnes then reached on a walk to load the bases with Yellowjackets, but Meghan O’Donnell popped up to the catcher to end the rally.

Joey Ehnes was 2-for-4 in the game.  Terilee Ehnes was 1-for-1 and drew two walks.  Hanley was 1-for-3 with an RBI.  Megan McCrae (1-5) pitched six innings for the Yellowjackets for the loss.  She gave up five hits and four earned runs. 

Teresa Bertocchi was 2-for-3 with two RBI for the Lumberjacks.  Amy Rothballer was 1-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored.  Emily Weitzel (9-4) went the distance for the win, allowing five hits.

Western Washington (1-1) jumped on the Jackets early and often in game two, scoring three in the first, five in the second and six in the third.  Stephanie Cochrun got the start for MSUB, lasting 1 1/3 innings and allowing six hits and eight runs.  Jordan Waverek replaced Cochrun in the second and gave up nine this and seven runs in 3 2/3.  The Vikings pounded out 15 hits.

The Yellowjackets were held to just two hits.  Theresa Campbell’s first home run of the season put the Jackets on the board in the bottom of the fifth.  She took Nancy Mills (1-0) deep to end the shutout.  Mills pitched five innings and walked none while striking out four.

The Yellowjackets (1-11) will continue pool play Saturday when the face Whitworth at 9:00 a.m.  They will follow that with games against St. Martin’s at 11:15 and Western Oregon at 3:45 p.m.